Plasticity product


Plasticity Product is a term coined by Jerry Rudy to refer to mRNA genetic artifacts and protein products triggered by transcription factors leading to long-lasting long term potentiation.

Introduction

The term "plasticity product" was coined by Jerry Rudy to refer to mRNA genetic artifacts and protein products triggered by transcription factors, leading long-lasting long term potentiation and sustained alterations in synaptic strength.
Rudy differentiates between two types of long term potentiation: S-LTP and L-LTP. In S-LTP the stimulus is strong enough to induce long-term potentiation but too weak to trigger intracellular events necessary to sustain synaptic changes. L-LTP is much less transient than S-LTP and involves the generation of new proteins through translation and transcription.
Induction of L-LTP depends on the transcription of new mRNA and the translation of these new mRNA into proteins. These steps are encompassed by the genomic signaling hypothesis as follows:
Support for the genomic signaling hypothesis comes from studies conducted by Nguyen et al. demonstrating the inability to induce L-LTP following transcription inhibition immediately following the inducing stimulus but not if transcription is blocked later. The temporal effects of this inhibition suggests that L-LTP is dependent on newly synthesized "plasticity products."
cAMP-responsive element-binding protein, a transcription factor, is also implicated in changes in synaptic plasticity. Inhibition of CREB translation likewise inhibited synaptic changes. CREB is activated in its phosphorylated form, acting as a molecular switch for production of plasticity products.

Two Waves of Protein Synthesis

There are two waves of protein synthesis following LTP induction. The first involves local transcription and translation of mRNA and the second involves the genomic signaling cascade.

Transcription and Local Translation of mRNAs

Genomic Signaling Cascade

Examples of Plasticity Products

A plasticity product must fit these criteria:

PKM ζ

CaMKII